Gregor Biber Overseas: How His Debut Went, Here's the Situation

Not a good start to the season for Austria's NHL legionnaires: Marco Kasper out with a concussion, Marco Rossi in a scoring slump, and David Reinbacher back in the AHL after a brief stint.

For the fourth Austrian overseas, Gregor Biber, however, the season has gone as expected so far – with a regular AHL spot in Tucson.

LAOLA1 scout Bernd Freimüller has observed his debut and also spoken with Biber himself:

The Long Road to a Cell Phone Contract

After three years with Rögle, totaling 105 SHL games, the move overseas this year was only logical for the 20-year-old defenseman; the entry-level deal with the Utah Mammoth was announced at the end of May.

How did the relocation go for him? Any major bureaucratic problems? "No, not really. A cell phone contract can take time, but I bypassed that with a pre-paid phone," Biber said. Social security and a bank account are also set up, a car bought, and an apartment rented outside Tucson. In contrast to Europe, you're more on your own here, but Biber's agency "4Sports" helped out.

Three other players reside in Biber's apartment complex, including German winger Julian Lutz. Biber: "It's good to speak German every now and then."

Mornings are dedicated to the gym and practice; games mostly take place on weekends, and away games usually involve flights. Feedback from Utah primarily comes from General Manager Bill Armstrong, who occasionally stops by for home games.

Little Movement in Utah and Tucson's Defensive Roster

The defenseman spots in Utah and Tucson are pretty much frozen, big roster changes like with other teams are less common. However, the two-meter tall Maveric Lamoureux, who was on the cusp between the NHL and AHL, injured his shoulder in the pre-season, and his return is still months away.

For the Mammoth, John Marino, who had been playing well until then, has been out for two weeks; his spot is currently being filled by seventh defenseman Nick DeSimone and the called-up Artyom Duda (long injured last season).

Due to Lamoureux's injury, the Roadrunners' lineup almost sorted itself out: Five defensemen with Utah contracts, plus 33-year-old veteran Robbie Russo. Brandon Holt and Cal Thomas (both with AHL contracts) are the two backups among a total of eight defensemen (including Duda).

What He Still Needs to Work On

What exactly is Biber's situation? He usually plays alongside equally-aged Tomas Lavoie – a righty next to the lefty Biber.

"The coach actually rotates all three pairings at 5-on-5; I'm one of four players on the penalty kill," Biber said, whose future overseas, even more than in Europe, will be that of a defensive defenseman.

What does he still need to work on most? "Perhaps quicker passes under pressure; the breakouts should be faster than in Sweden."

How else did he manage the transition to the smaller ice? "No problem, I think it even benefits me," said the physically robust (90 kg at 1.90 meters) defenseman.

His stats so far: 11 games with 3 assists, 10 penalty minutes, and a +2 rating. His ice time ranges between 17 and, most recently, even 23 minutes.

Apart from two losses at the start of the season, the Roadrunners have scored points in each of the subsequent nine games, leading the Pacific Division (10 teams) with 16 points from eleven games.

For Now, Everything is Going According to Plan

In recent years, Austria has been spoiled with high draft picks like Rossi, Kasper, and Reinbacher. Players who were drafted in the middle or late rounds did not receive contracts (Thimo Nickl, Benjamin Baumgartner), see their future more in Europe (Vinzenz Rohrer), or are still in college (Vasily Zelenov).

A mix like in larger hockey nations, Biber's career has been linear so far: Following a solid European career, the first season of an entry-level deal, which naturally begins in the AHL, follows. An assignment to the ECHL – which certainly happens – was not an issue; a regular spot in the AHL is already a fine success.

Whether and when it will be enough for an NHL stint, the coming months and years will show; his development will not be measured by scoring points. But even after the move overseas, which has derailed many Europeans, Biber's path is proceeding according to plan...